The 1-1 draw in the game between Valencia and Rayo Vallecano at the Mestalla Stadium was a tight contest with a strong defensive display from both sides. The game was balanced in terms of goals but the statistical data, on closer analysis, hints at Valencia's slight dominance in offense.

Firstly, Valencia displayed a large amount of offensive efforts with 18 shots in total compared to just 7 from Vallecano. However, their inefficient shooting accuracy resulted in 4 of these being on target and a substantial 14 off target, marking a missed opportunity for creating a stronger lead. Rayo showed more precision, with a shot accuracy of 28.5% versus Valencia's 22.2%, with 2 out of 7 shots on target.

The corner kick data mirrored the shot data, with Valencia having 13 compared to Vallecano's 3. Again, although Valencia led in the number of set-piece opportunities, they were unable to translate this advantage into more goals.

The fouls were quite evenly balanced between the teams. Valencia committed 15 fouls while Rayo recorded 16, a slight display of aggressive gameplay. On the disciplinary side, Valencia had 2 yellow cards, while Rayo received 3. It's noteworthy that one of Rayo’s yellow cards was handed out to Ivan Balliu Campeny only a minute before Valencia equalized which could have instigated a momentary lapse in Vallecano's defense.

Playmaking also followed a similar story. Alvaro Garcia Rivera had an influential role for Rayo, assisting Santi Comesana’s first-half opener. Valencia, however, equalized in the second half with a goal credited to Justin Kluivert as an own goal. This suggests a tactical advantage and high pressure from Valencia, forcing the opponents to make mistakes.

In summary, the day was a testament to a well fought battle between the teams. However, the key statistical insights point to Valencia's missed chances due to inefficient shooting. Despite their commanding offensive stats, their difficulty in capitalizing on opportunities proved costly in turning the game to their favour. Rayo, on the other hand, although less territorial, showed defensive organisation and capitalized on their few opportunities more efficiently.

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